Should you buy a cordless vacuum or corded vacuum? It comes down to what suits your needs and weighing up these key factors.
Suction Power
Corded
Corded vacuums are plugged into the mains power so they generally (but not always) have stronger suction power and give you better results, particularly on carpets. For this reason, corded vacuums tend to be best for bigger homes with lots of carpet, pets and kids.
Cordless
The battery creates the suction power, so some cordless vacuums lose suction as the battery starts to deplete. Cordless vacuums with a lithium battery last longer and provide consistent suction power, but only the best cordless vacuums can perform as well a plug-in vacuum.
If you want a powerful stick vacuum, go for one with a high voltage lithium battery and innovative motor technology. It will give you more powerful suction than a vacuum with a less powerful motor and battery, and the same suction power for as long as the battery lasts for better vacuuming results.
Flexibility
Corded
Corded vacuums are heavier and need to be plugged in, so they’re a little bit more awkward. You have to keep the cable out of the way and plug into different power points as you change rooms. Pulling out a big corded vacuum for crumbs or the car can also feel like an effort.
Cordless
A cordless vacuum is so light—only about 3kg—and gives you complete cable-free freedom so vacuuming your car, furniture, stairs, corners, crevices and crumbs is easy. Some cordless vacuums convert into a handheld vacuum for quick spot cleans—perfect if you have kids or pets!
Battery Life
Corded
When you have a corded vacuum you don’t have to worry about battery life and can vacuum for as long as you like. This makes them great for homes that take some time to vacuum, because you don’t run the risk of running out of battery before you’ve finished vacuuming.
Cordless
Cordless vacuums have a limited battery life (usually 7-40 minutes) and need to be recharged (for 2-16 hours). A high voltage lithium ion battery gives you a longer run time than a less powerful, lower voltage stick vacuum, so you don’t have to stop and charge the battery as much, and higher end vacuums generally charge faster so you get what you pay for. Turbo/boost modes work best on carpets, but this does use up the battery faster.
Dust Capacity
Corded
Corded vacuums hold much more dust than cordless vacuums and don’t have to be emptied as often, so allergy sufferers are less frequently exposed to dust during emptying. Those with allergies or asthma can also benefit from a vacuum that has a HEPA filter.
Cordless
Cordless vacuums have a small capacity of about 0.6L (compared to most corded vacuums which hold about 2-3L) so they need to be emptied and the filters cleaned more often to prevent blockages that can affect the cordless vacuum’s cleaning performance.
Conclusion
Whether a corded or cordless vacuum is better for you really depends on your home—how big it is, how much carpet it has, and if you have kids or pets.
For smaller homes with less carpet, a cordless vacuum might be best, and for bigger homes with lots of carpet, kids or pets, a corded vacuum is probably the preferred choice.
Lots of people decide not to choose— they have a corded vacuum for serious cleaning sessions, and a little cordless vacuum for crumbs, spills, pet hair, stairs, furniture, the car and quick vacuums between cleans or before guests arrive.
Whether a corded or cordless vacuum is better for you really depends on your home—how big it is, how much carpet it has, and if you have kids or pets.
For smaller homes with less carpet, a cordless vacuum might be best, and for bigger homes with lots of carpet, kids or pets, a corded vacuum is probably the preferred choice.
Lots of people decide not to choose— they have a corded vacuum for serious cleaning sessions, and a little cordless vacuum for crumbs, spills, pet hair, stairs, furniture, the car and quick vacuums between cleans or before guests arrive.
